Cigar lighter



G. F. BAHR Jan. 24, 1939.

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Nov 1:5, 1955 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE CIGAR LIGHTER Application November 13, 1935, Serial No. 49,542

14 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters, and more particularly to the type of lighter having a holder adapted to be mounted on a suitable support such as an automobile instrument board, and having an igniting assembly which is removably supported in the holder, and which may be quickly removed by hand when the heating coil carried in the igniting assembly has been brought to incandescence.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of the kind referred to in which the heating coil unit is easily and quickly removable and replaceable without the necessity of unscrewing parts, or of realigning parts, or of resorting to workmens tools for said replacement.

To this end the present invention provides the removable igniting assembly with two frictionally held units, one being the heating coil unit itself and the other being a removable end closure unit located in front of said heating coil unit, and in axial alignment with same. Should it become necessary to remove and replace the heating coil unit, the removable end closure unit may be first pried out with a sharp-pointed implement such as a pen knife blade, or a nail file. It is then possible to use a match or tooth pick, or the point of a refillable pencil, to push out quickly the heating coil unit and substitute a new one.

This is a particularly important feature, for at times the resistance wire of the heating coil burns out and replacement of the unit is required to be performed by the user who frequently has no aptitude or skill for such things.

It is common practice to provide igniting units of cigar lighters with illuminating members to apprise the user when such units are ready for use, and accordingly the present invention provides the end closure unit of the igniting assembly with a lens portion adapted to glow when the heating element becomes incandescent.

The end closure unit of the present invention is preferably in axial alignment with the heating element unit, and in front of same, and is in light receiving relation to the latter, and the lens portion of said unit is therefore positioned to transmit light from said heating element.

An advantage in having the lens form part of the removable end closure unit is that interchangeability of lenses is made possible, and it is therefore a simple matter to attach lenses of different colors or designs to the igniting assembly, so as to harmonize with various color schemes of car interiors, or so as to be in accord with the taste of the user.

A further advantage in having a removable lens obtains from the manufacturing standpoint, effecting an economy in fabrication of the igniting units. In the cigar lighter art as heretofore practiced, the lenses were not removably mounted in the igniting units, but were permanently attached therein. At times inadvertent breakage of lenses would occur during assembly of the units, or due to handling. It was then necessary to discard the body portions having the broken lenses, resulting in a waste of material and parts. By the present invention this waste is eliminated, for the removable lens unit is not mounted in the body of the igniting unit until the other operations have all been completed, and should breakage of the lens occur subsequent to this it is only necessary to substitute a new lens unit for the broken one, without discarding any other portions of the igniting unit. In the preferred form of this invention, the lens and heating element units are supported at opposite ends of a tubular metal support carried in the insulating body of the igniting unit, and use is made of the reflecting properties of the bright and shiny bore of said tubular support to augment the illumination of the lens when the element is incandescent.

By the provision in the igniting unit of a tubular support member for the heating element, the latter and said support are heat insulated from the body of said igniting unit by a substantial air space, and therefore said body is prevented from becoming unduly hot during the energization of the heating element resulting in possible discomfort to the user.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing which shows one form of this invention, that at present preferred Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view showing the igniting unit supported on the holding device, and the latter mounted on a suitable support.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the lens unit.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the heating coil unit.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the igniting unit depressed in circuit closing posi tion.

Fig. 5 is a front end View of the heating coil unit and its supporting sleeve shown partly cut away.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the igniting unit.

Fig. '7 is a section taken on the line of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a front view of the igniting unit, but with the lens carrying end closure removed.

' drawn through the nipple I8.

The cigar lighter of the present invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, comprises an igniting unit l removably mounted on a holding device II. The latter has a hollow metal sleeve I2, having spring tongues I3 normally biased outward 'and which extend longitudinally of the sleeve l2, and are disposed so that adjacent tongues extend in opposite directions to each other, like in the application of Joseph H. Cohen, Serial No. 25,382, dated June '7, 1935, in which this feature is claimed. The sleeve I! has an internal flange I4 at its end, which is tightly clamped to a metal escutcheon l5 adapted to engage an instrument board or other support. The flange l4 and the escutcheon [5 are clamped together by recessed washers. [B which in turn are held against a shoulder ll of the nipple l8, the end of the latter being headed over on said washers. A nut l9 and lock washer 2B are carried on the nipple l8, and serve to securely draw the escutcheon l5 against the automobile instrument board or other supporting surface, and to securely support the holding device ll thereby, and to make grounded electrical connection thereto. Passing through the nipple i8 is a plug contact 2| which is insulated from the former by an insulating washer 22 and an insulating sleeve 23. An integral shoulder 26 on the plug 2! bears against the insulating washer 22 and prevents the plug 2! from being The other end of the plug 2! passes through two insulating washers 24 and a stop disk 25, and is headed over on the latter so as to hold this firmly against the end of the nipple [8 but insulated. therefrom. The stop disk 25 has obliquely extending curved contact fingers which adapt it to engage and electrically connect with a heating element contact to be hereinafter described. The plug 2| extends backward longitudinally beyond the integral shoulder 26, and is recessed toreceive the bare end and part of the insulation of the conducting wire 27, which is sweated in said plug with solder. A soft rubber sleeve 28 is slipped over the exposed parts of the plug 2! to preclude the possibility of a short circuit occurring at this place.

The stop disk 25 forms by virtue of its connection to the wire 21, an electrical contact for the igniting unit now tobe described.

The removable igniting unit In comprises a cylindrical body 29 having a stepped bore 30 and 3|, with a shoulder 32. The bore 30 is of a size to slip easily over the sleeve l2 of the holding device, and therefore the tongues i3 of the sleeve l2, which are normally biased outward, engage with the bore 30 of the body and provide for yieldingly holding the igniting unit In on the holding device ll.

According to the present invention, the igniting unit In is provided with means cooperating with means of a'heating element unit about to be described, for making possible quick and easy removal and replacement of said heating element without the use of workmens tools, and without a great degree of skill on the part of the user.

To this end, there is provided a cylindrical metal sleeve 33 in the body 29 supported at the forward or front end of said body on the shoulder 3|, this latter being held between an annular flange 34 crimped in the sleeve 33, and the spunover end of said sleeve. The rear of the sleeve 33 has an end 35 apertured at its center, and supporting a tube 36 passing axially through said aperture, said tube being held in the end 35 by flanges of the former engaging opposite sides of the latter. The tube 36 extends a substantial distance forwardly into the sleeve 33, both being concentric with each other, and having a common axis.

The tube 36 constitutes a receptacle and support for a central slitted contact stud of a heating element now to be described.

The heating element. unit 38 of the present invention comprises a spirally wound resistance wire 39, see Fig. 6, having its inner end attached to a stud 43, and its outer end attached'to a cup 4|. The stud 40 passes through the bottom of the cup 4|, as shown in Fig. 3, and is insulated therefrom, and is of a diameter to fit closely but easily inside ofthe tube 36. A longitudinal slit 43 is provided in the stud 43, and the two separated sections or tines thus formed are normally biased slightly outwardly, thereby adapting the stud 40 to yieldingly engage the tube 36, and to be supported thereby.

Thus there is provided by the present invention a frictional mounting for the heating element 38 which permits of rapid and easy removal, and yet securely holds said element in true axial alignment and in firm position within the body 29. It is only necessary, in order to easily remove the element 38, to hold the body 29 in one hand, and apply pressure to the end of the stud 40 with the other hand, using either a a matchstick, toothpick or the point of a refillable pencil. 1

To permit this to be done/the present invention provides means whereby the front end of the body 29 may be opened to provide free access to the end of the stud 40. This means constitutes a removable end closure unit 44 cooperating with the front or forward. portion of the sleeve 33, the former being adapted to engage the bore of the latter, and be supported thereby. The end closure unit 44 is mounted in the front end of the body l0, and is in light receiving relation to the heating element 38, and accordingly is made with an illuminable member or lens 41 adapted to glow when said heating element becomes incandescent.

The lens unit 44 comprises a thimble 45 having ashoulder 46 at one end, which holds the lens 41, the rim of said shoulder being turned over on said lens to attain it. The thimble 45 is of a size to slidingly fit within the sleeve 33 of the body 23, and small nibs 48 are provided on the former to engage a circular groove in the bore of the latter, said groove being left from thecrimping of the shoulder 34 in the sleeve 33. Therefore the lens unit '44 may be easily mounted in the front end of the body 29, and may be readily removed by prying same out with .a pointed implement, such as a knife blade, or nail file, and these expedients are provided to permit of facilitative removal and replacement of the heating element 38'.

There is thus provided by the present invention a removable igniting unit for an electric cigar lighter having means for quickly and easily permitting removal and replacement of the heating element, without the use of special tools, and with only ordinary skill being required for the operation.

Although the removable lens unit 44 of the present invention is provided to facilitate removal and replacement of the heating element 38, the operation may be reversed upon necessity, if difficulty is experienced for some reason in removing said lens unit first. Accordingly, the

heating element 38 may be first pulled out using a button hook, or a key, and a pointed implement inserted through the back of the body 29 and brought to bear against the lens 47, forcing it out in this manner.

The igniting unit 38 is normally held in inoperative position on the holder H, as shown in Fig. 1, by a dished ring 49 and a spring 50 carried on the sleeve 33. l'he spring 50 bears against the shoulder 34 and against the ring 49, and normally yieldingly urges these apart, the latter being retained on the sleeve 33 by integral wings 5! extending outwardly. The ring 49 is adapted to engage the end of the sleeve l2 of the holder H, thereby forming a yielding stop when the igniting unit It} is slipped on said holder, and maintaining the heating element 38 out of contact with the disk 25 and therefore unenergized. The ring 49 and spring 5!] also serve as an electrical connection between the grounded sleeve I2 and the sleeve 33, as later described. When it is desired to use the cigar lighter, the igniting unit it) is depressed inwardly against the holder H, causing the ring 49. to yieldingly engage the sleeve i2 and causing the cup 4| of the heating element 38 to contact with the disk 25, as shown in e. A complete electrical circuit is thereby formed through the heating element 38. Current being conducted by the wire 21 flows through the contact disk 25 to the cup 4| which is connected to the outer end of the heating coil 39. From the inner end of said coil current is conducted through the stud 40, the tube 36 and the sleeve 33 to the ring 49 which is being maintained in intimate contact with the grounded sleeve 12 by the spring 5%. From there it returns to its source via the ground. Energization of the heating element as outlined above causes it to become incandescent. In order that light from said element may reach the lens 4! there are provided apertures in the bottom of the cup 4! and associated insulating washers, which apertures permit light from the incandescent element to penetrate forwardly in the body 28. This light passes through the apertures of the end of the sleeve 33 and through the bore of the sleeve 33 and the thimble re, striking the lens 41 and causing it to glow, thereby inform ng the user that the igniting unit is in a state of readiness for use. The igniting unit may then be withdrawn, and the incandescent heating element applied to the cigar or cigarette to be lighted. The bore of the sleeve 33 and the bore of the thimble 45 are preferably bright and shiny, providing for reflection of the light from the heating element 38, thereby augmenting the degree of illumination of the lens 41.

In order to secure proper alignment of the apertures in the cup 4| with the apertures in the end 35 of the sleeve 33, the heating element 38 has a washer 52 carried on the stud Ml, which washer has integral wings bent in the direction of the stud M, and substantially parallel with same. These wings are adapted to enter the apertures in the juxtaposed end 35, see Figs. 4 and 5, and thereby F provide for positioning the heating element 38 with respect to said end, so that a maximum amount of light may pass to the lens 41. The washer 52, engaging the end of the sleeve 33, is provided to serve a second important purpose in preventing relative rotation between the heating element 38 and the sleeve 33 when it is desired to clean the engaging contact surfaces of the disk 25 and the cup 4! by turning the body 29. Should these contact surfaces become dirty during use, the cup 4! may be caused to scrape against the wings of the disk 25 by depressing the body inwardly and turning same thereby dislodging said dirt and re-establishing good electrical connection to the heating element.

From the foregoing it may be readily seen therefore that by the present invention there is provided a cigar lighter of the removable ignitingunit type having an easily removable lens unit and a frictionally held heating element unit, wherein the former cooperates to make possible rapid and easy removal, and replacement of the latter should this burn out, and wherein said replacement is within the ability of the average user, and may be made without special tools, all of the above being accomplished with simplicity and economy in the manufacture of the device.

Variations and modifications may be made Within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

The invention being thus described, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be mounted on a holding device for quick removal and replacement, and comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends; a heating element having a central contact stud; means supported in said body for frictionally holding said central contact stud so that the heating element carried thereby is supported at the rear opening of the cavity; a light conducting member; and means for removably mounting said light conducting member in the front opening of the cavity and in axial alignment with. the stud of the heating element so that when said light conducting member is removed, said stud is made accessible for engagement by an implement by means of which the heating element may be ejected.

2. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device and comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends; a heating element located in said cavity at the back thereof, and frictionally held therein; a light conducting member; and means for removably mounting said light conducting member in the front opening of said cavity and in light conducting relation to the heating element so that removal of the member gives access to the underside of the heating element to permit the latter to be engaged and ejected.

3. In electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device and comprising a body with a cavity opening at one end of the body; a heating element; heating element supporting means in said body; cooperating frictionally engaging plug and socket elements on said heating element and supporting means therefor whereby the heating element may be slidably and quickly inserted in and removed from the body through said open end; and a closure for the other end of the body mounted thereon for removal to give access to the underside of the heating element so that the latter may be engaged and ejected by means of a pointed implement.

4. A cigar lighter comprising a stationary member and a removable member detachably mounted thereon; said removable member comprising a body with. a cavity which opens at both front and back ends; a heating element having a slitted central contact stud and a collar connected to the outer end of said element; means supported in said body for frictionally engaging and supporting said slitted contact stud so that the heating element carried thereby is supported in the rear of the cavity, a lens, means for removably mounting the lens in the front opening of the cavity and in axial alignment with the slitted stud of the heating element so that when said lens is removed said stud is made accessible for engagement by an implement by means of which the heating element may be ejected; said stationary member having a grounded sleeve adapted to yieldingly engage said body inside of the cavity, and having a central terminal attached to but insulated from said sleeve, and adapted to engage the collar of said heating element when the removable member is in contact position.

5. In a cigar lighter, a stationary member and a removable member detachably mounted there-' on, said removable member comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends, a heating element having a contact stud and a collar connected to the outer end of said element, means connected electrically to said contact stud and supported in said body for frictionally engaging and supporting said contact stud so that the heating element carried thereby is supported in the rear of the cavity; a lens; means for removably mounting the lens in the front opening of the cavity and in axial alignment with the slitted stud of the heating element so that when said lens is removed said stud is made accessible for engagement by an implement by means of which the heating element may be ejected; a stationary holding member having a grounded sleeve adapted to yieldingly engage said body inside of the cavity and having a central terminal attached to but insulated from said sleeve, and adapted to contact with the collar of said heating element when these are axially juxtaposed; and means for electrically connecting said grounded sleeve to the supporting means for said contact stud, and for yieldingly maintaining the collar of said heating element out of contact with said central terminal.

6. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device and comprising a body With a cavity which opens at both front and back ends; a sleeve mounted in said body; a heating element; means for removably mounting the heating element on said sleeve; a lens; and a thimble slidably fitting into said sleeve and having a rim adapted for mounting said lens therein, said thimble having means for yieldingly engaging said sleeve so that the thimble and lens can be removed for insertion of an instrument to eject the heating element.

7. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device and comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends; a sleeve mounted in said body; a tube mounted in said sleeve; a heater coil having a contact stud frictionally held in said tube, said coil being supported in the rear of the body cavity thereby; a lens; and a thimble slidably fitting into said sleeve and having a rim adapted for mounting said lens therein; said thimble having means for yieldingly engaging said sleeve, and said thimble being in front of said heating coil so that by its removal access is had to the end of said contact stud for the removal of the heating element.

8. A cigar lighter comprising a stationary member and a removable member detachably mounted thereon, said removable member comprising a stud and a collar connected to the outer end of said element; a metal sleeve mounted in said body; a tube mounted in said sleeve for frictionally holding and supporting said contact stud so that the heating element carried thereby is supported in the rear of the cavity; a lens; a thimble slidably fitting into said sleeve and having a rim adapted for mounting said lens therein, said thimble having means for yieldingly engaging said sleeve, and said thimble being supported in front of said heating element so that when said lens is removed access is had to the end of said stud for the removal of the heating element;

said stationary member having a grounded sleeve adapted to yieldingly engage said body, and having a central terminal attached to but insulated from said .sleeve, and adapted to engage the collar of said heating element when the removable member is in contact position.

9. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends; a heater element having a contact stud and a collar connected to the outer end of said element, a metal sleeve mounted in said body; a tube mounted in said sleeve for frictionally holding and supporting said contact stud so that the heating element carried thereby is supported in the rear of the cavity; a ring movably carried by said sleeve; a spring carried by said sleeve for yieldingly urging said ring toward the rear of the cavity; a lens; a thimble for removably mounting said lens at the front of the cavity, so that when said thimble is removed, access is had to the end of said stud for the removal of the heating element; a stationary holding member having a grounded sleeve adapted to yieldingly engage said body inside of the cavity and adapted to contact said ring, and having a central terminal attached to but insulated from said grounded sleeve and adapted to contact the collar of said heating element when the igniting unit is depressed and held inwardly against the holder and in contact position.

10. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device and comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends, the front end of said body having an internal shoulder extending into said cavity; a metal sleeve having an annular abutment intermediate its ends formed of bent sleeve material and forming a groove in the bore of said sleeve, and having a flange at its front end, said abutment and flange gripping said shoulder and thereby supporting said sleeve in said body; a lens; and a metal thimble slidably fitting into said sleeve and having a rim adapted for mounting said lens therein, said thimble having nibs adapted to, engage the groove in the bore of said sleeve to retain said thimble in the latter.

11. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device and-comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends, the front end of said body having an internal shoulder extending into said cavity; a metal sleeve having an annular abutment intermediate its ends formed of bent sleeve material and forming a groove in the bore of said sleeve, and having a flange at its front end, said abutment and flange gripping said shoulder and thereby supporting said sleeve in said body, and said sleeve having an apertured rear closure; a metal tube supported in said sleeve, the rear of said tube being affixed in said rear closure; a heater coil having a contact stud frictionally held insaid tube and supporting said heating coil thereby at therear of the body cavity;

a lens; and a metal thimble slidably fitting into said sleeve, and having a rim adapted for mounting said lens therein, said thimble having nibs adapted to engage the groove in the bore of said sleeve to retain said thimble in the latter.

12. A cigar lighter comprising a stationary ele ment and a removable element, the stationary element consisting of a tubular outer contact and an inner disk contact, the removable element comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends, the front end of said body having an internal shoulder extending into said cavity, a metal sleeve having an annular abutment intermediate its ends formed of bent sleeve material and forming a groove in the bore of said sleeve, and having a flange at its front end, said abutment and flange gripping said shoulder and thereby supporting said sleeve in said body, and said sleeve having an apertured rear closure, a metal tube supported in said sleeve, the rear of said tube being affixed in said rear closure, a heater coil having a slitted central contact stud frictionally held on said tube and supporting said heating coil thereby at the rear of the body cavity, and having an outer shell adapted to contact said inner disk contact; a lens; and a metal thimble slidably fitting into said sleeve, and having a rim adapted for mounting said lens therein, said thimble having nibs adapted to engage the groove in the bore of said sleeve to retain said thimble in the latter.

13. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit comprising a body with a cavity which opens at both front and back ends, a heating element having a contact stud and a collar connected to the outer end of said element, a sleeve in said body supported at the front thereof, a tube in said sleeve, and supported at the rear thereof and adapted to frictionally hold said contact stud so that the heating element carried thereby is supported in the rear of the cavity, a ring movably carried by said sleeve, a spring carried by said sleeve for yieldingly urging said ring toward the rear of the cavity, a lens, a thimble for removably mounting said lens in the front opening of the cavity so that when said lens is removed access is had to the end of said stud; a stationary ho1ding member having a grounded sleeve adapted to yieldingly engage said body inside of the cavity and adapted to contact said ring, and a central terminal attached to but insulated from said grounded sleeve, and adapted to contact the collar of said heating element when the igniting unit is depressed and held inwardly against the holder and in contact position.

14. In an electric cigar lighter, an igniting unit adapted to be removably mounted on a holding device, and comprising a body with a cavity opening at both front and back ends; a heating ele ment frictionally carried at the back of the cavity; and a removable end-closure for the front of the cavity, mounted on the body for removal to give access to the underside of the heating element so that the latter may be engaged and ejected by overcoming the frictional holding of the same.

GUSTAVE F. BAHR. 

